115.435(1)(a)
(a) The school district had an enrollment in the previous school year of fewer than 500 pupils.
115.435(1)(b)
(b) The school district is at least 200 square miles in area.
115.435(1)(c)
(c) At least 80% of the real property in the school district is exempt from taxation under
s. 70.11, taxed as forest croplands under
subch. I of ch. 77, owned by or held in trust for a federally recognized American Indian tribe, or owned by the federal government.
115.435(2)
(2) No later than June 30 of the current school year, the department shall, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (ad), pay each school district that satisfies the criteria under
sub. (1) $350 for each pupil enrolled in the school district in the previous school year. If the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (ad) is insufficient to pay the full amount under this subsection, the funds shall be prorated among the entitled school districts.
115.435(3)
(3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.
115.435 History
History: 1999 a. 9,
185;
2001 a. 16.
115.435 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
PI 10, Wis. adm. code.
115.436(2)
(2) A school district is eligible for sparsity aid under this section if it satisfies all of the following criteria:
115.436(2)(a)
(a) The school district's membership in the previous school year was no more than 725.
115.436(2)(b)
(b) At least 20 percent of the school district's membership in the previous school year was eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch under
42 USC 1758 (b).
115.436(2)(c)
(c) The school district's membership in the previous school year divided by the school district's area in square miles is less than 10.
115.436(3)(a)(a) Beginning in the 2009-10 school year, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (ae) and subject to
par. (b), the department shall pay to each school district eligible for sparsity aid $300 multiplied by the membership in the previous school year.
115.436(3)(b)
(b) If the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (ae) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount under
par. (a), the department shall prorate the payments among the eligible school districts.
115.436 History
History: 2007 a. 20;
2009 a. 28.
115.437(1)(1) In this section, "number of pupils enrolled" has the meaning given in
s. 121.90 (1) (intro.) and includes 40 percent of the summer enrollment.
115.437(2)
(2) Annually on the 4th Monday of March, the department shall pay to each school district an amount equal to the average of the number of pupils enrolled in the school district in the current and 2 preceding school years multiplied by $75 in the 2013-14 school year and by $150 in each school year thereafter. The department shall make the payments from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (aq).
115.437 History
History: 2013 a. 20.
115.44
115.44
Early identification program. 115.44(1)
(1) The state superintendent shall establish an early identification program as part of the Wisconsin educational opportunity program under
s. 115.28 (23). Early identification program costs shall be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (1) (a). The early identification program shall assist minority and economically disadvantaged pupils in grades 8 to 12 in pursuing higher educational opportunities by providing direction toward attainment of career goals.
115.44(2)
(2) Biennially, the state superintendent shall provide the governor and any appropriate standing committee of the legislature information on the performance of the early identification program and the postsecondary educational progress of the pupils who were enrolled in the program. The information shall include the number and ethnic backgrounds of the pupils who were enrolled in the program and college acceptance, retention and graduation rates of the pupils.
115.445
115.445
Four-year-old kindergarten grants. 115.445(1)
(1) A school board may apply to the department for a 2-year grant under this section to implement a 4-year-old kindergarten program.
115.445(2)(a)(a) In the first school year of a grant awarded under this section, the department shall pay the school board up to $3,000 for each 4-year-old kindergarten pupil enrolled in the school district. In the succeeding school year, the department shall pay the school board up to $1,500 for each 4-year-old kindergarten pupil enrolled in the school district.
115.445(2)(b)
(b) The department shall award grants under this section beginning in the 2008-09 school year and shall give preference in awarding grants to school boards that use community approaches to early education, as defined by the department by rule. If the funds in the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (dp) are insufficient to pay all eligible school boards, the department shall prorate the payments.
115.445(3)
(3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
115.445 History
History: 2007 a. 20.
115.445 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
PI 16, Wis. adm. code.
115.46
115.46
Interstate agreement on qualification of educational personnel. The interstate agreement on qualification of educational personnel is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all jurisdictions legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows:
INTERSTATE AGREEMENT ON QUALIFICATION
OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL
115.46(1)
(1) Article I - Purpose, Findings, and Policy. 115.46(1)(a)(a) The states party to this agreement, desiring by common action to improve their respective school systems by utilizing the teacher or other professional educational person wherever educated, declare that it is the policy of each of them, on the basis of cooperation with one another, to take advantage of the preparation and experience of such persons wherever gained, thereby serving the best interests of society, of education, and of the teaching profession. It is the purpose of this agreement to provide for the development and execution of such programs of cooperation as will facilitate the movement of teachers and other professional educational personnel among the states party to it, and to authorize specific interstate educational personnel contracts to achieve that end.
115.46(1)(b)
(b) The party states find that included in the large movement of population among all sections of the nation are many qualified educational personnel who move for family and other personal reasons but who are hindered in using their professional skill and experience in their new locations. Variations from state to state in requirements for qualifying educational personnel discourage such personnel from taking the steps necessary to qualify in other states. As a consequence, a significant number of professionally prepared and experienced educators is lost to our school systems. Facilitating the employment of qualified educational personnel, without reference to their states of origin, can increase the available educational resources. Participation in this compact can increase the availability of educational manpower.
115.46(2)
(2) Article II - Definitions. As used in this agreement and contracts made pursuant to it, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
115.46(2)(a)
(a) "Accept", or any variant thereof, means to recognize and give effect to one or more determinations of another state relating to the qualifications of educational personnel in lieu of making or requiring a like determination that would otherwise be required by or pursuant to the laws of a receiving state.
115.46(2)(b)
(b) "Designated state official" means the education official of a state selected by that state to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of that state, contracts pursuant to this agreement.
115.46(2)(c)
(c) "Educational personnel" means persons who must meet requirements pursuant to state law as a condition of employment in educational programs.
115.46(2)(d)
(d) "Originating state" means a state, and the subdivisions of the state, if any, whose determination that certain educational personnel are qualified to be employed for specific duties in schools is acceptable in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to
sub. (3).
115.46(2)(e)
(e) "Receiving state" means a state, and the subdivisions of the state, that accepts educational personnel in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to
sub. (3).
115.46(2)(f)
(f) "State" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States; the District of Columbia; or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
115.46(3)
(3) Article III - Interstate Educational Personnel Contracts. 115.46(3)(a)(a) The designated state official of a party state may make one or more contracts on behalf of the official's state with one or more party states providing for the acceptance of educational personnel. Any such contract for the period of its duration shall be applicable to and binding on the states whose designated state officials enter into it, and the subdivisions of those states, with the same force and effect as if incorporated in this agreement. A designated state official may enter into a contract pursuant to this subsection only with states in which the official finds that there are programs of education, certification standards or other acceptable qualifications that assure preparation or qualification of educational personnel on a basis sufficiently comparable, even though not identical to that prevailing in the official's own state.
115.46(3)(b)2.
2. The criteria to be applied by an originating state in qualifying educational personnel for acceptance by a receiving state.
115.46(3)(b)3.
3. Such waivers, substitutions, and conditional acceptances as shall aid the practical effectuation of the contract without sacrifice of basic educational standards.
115.46(3)(c)
(c) No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall be for a term longer than 5 years but any such contract may be renewed for like or lesser periods.
115.46(3)(d)
(d) Any contract dealing with acceptance of educational personnel on the basis of their having completed an educational program shall specify the earliest date or dates on which originating state approval of the program or programs involved can have occurred. No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall require acceptance by a receiving state of any persons qualified because of successful completion of a program prior to January 1, 1954.
115.46(3)(e)
(e) The certification or other acceptance of a person who has been accepted pursuant to the terms of a contract shall not be revoked or otherwise impaired because the contract has expired or been terminated. However, any certificate or other qualifying document may be revoked or suspended on any ground which would be sufficient for revocation or suspension of a certificate or other qualifying document initially granted or approved in the receiving state.
115.46(3)(f)
(f) A contract committee composed of the designated state officials of the contracting states or their representatives shall keep the contract under continuous review, study means of improving its administration, and report no less frequently than once a year to the heads of the appropriate education agencies of the contracting states.
115.46(4)
(4) Article IV - Approved and Accepted Programs. 115.46(4)(a)(a) Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to repeal or otherwise modify any law or regulation of a party state relating to the approval of programs of educational preparation having effect solely on the qualification of educational personnel within that state.
115.46(4)(b)
(b) To the extent that contracts made pursuant to this agreement deal with the educational requirements for the proper qualification of educational personnel, acceptance of a program of educational preparation shall be in accordance with such procedures and requirements as may be provided in the applicable contract.
115.46(5)
(5) Article V - Interstate Cooperation. The party states agree that:
115.46(5)(a)
(a) They will, so far as practicable, prefer the making of multilateral contracts under
sub. (3).
115.46(5)(b)
(b) They will facilitate and strengthen cooperation in interstate certification and other elements of educational personnel qualification and for this purpose shall cooperate with agencies, organizations, and associations interested in certification and other elements of educational personnel qualification.
115.46(6)
(6) Article VI - Agreement Evaluation. The designated state officials of any party states may meet from time to time as a group to evaluate progress under the agreement, and to formulate recommendations for changes.
115.46(7)
(7) Article VII - Other Arrangements. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to prevent or inhibit other arrangements or practices of any party state or states to facilitate the interchange of educational personnel.
115.46(8)
(8) Article VIII - Effect and Withdrawal. 115.46(8)(a)(a) This agreement shall become effective when enacted into law by 2 states. Thereafter it shall become effective as to any state upon its enactment of this agreement.
115.46(8)(b)
(b) Any party state may withdraw from this agreement by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party states.
115.46(8)(c)
(c) No withdrawal shall relieve the withdrawing state of any obligation imposed upon it by a contract to which it is a party. The duration of contracts and the methods and conditions of withdrawal therefrom shall be those specified in their terms.
115.46(9)
(9) Article IX - Construction and Severability. This agreement shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this agreement shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this agreement is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States, or the application thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this agreement and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this agreement shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the agreement shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
115.47
115.47
Designated state official under agreement. The "designated state official" for this state under
s. 115.46 shall be the state superintendent.
115.47 History
History: 1995 a. 27 s.
9145;
1997 a. 27.
115.48
115.48
Contracts under agreement. True copies of all contracts made on behalf of this state pursuant to the agreement shall be kept on file in the department and in the office of the secretary of state. The department shall publish all such contracts in convenient form.
115.48 History
History: 1995 a. 27;
1997 a. 27.
WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AND WISCONSIN CENTER FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
115.51
115.51
Definitions. In this subchapter:
115.51(2)
(2) "Hearing impaired" has the meaning given in the rules promulgated by the state superintendent to define "hearing impairments" under
s. 115.76 (5) (a) 2.
115.51(4)
(4) "Visually impaired" means loss of vision, or blindness, as described in the rule promulgated by the state superintendent to define "visual impairments" for the purposes of
s. 115.76 (5) (a) 4.
115.52
115.52
Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 115.52(1)
(1)
Definition. In this section, "program" means the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
115.52(1m)
(1m) Purpose. The purpose of the program is to serve as a statewide educational resource relating to hearing impairments to benefit all Wisconsin children who are hearing impaired.
115.52(2)
(2) Governance. The state superintendent shall maintain and govern the program's facilities. The state superintendent shall appoint an individual who has training and experience in educating pupils who are hearing impaired to serve as the director of the program.
115.52(3)
(3) Services. The program shall provide services that benefit children throughout the state who are hearing impaired.
115.52(3)(a)1.1. `Residents 3 to 20 years old.' The program shall operate a school at which any resident of this state 3 to 20 years old who is hearing impaired, and for the duration of a school term any resident of this state who is hearing impaired and becomes 21 years old during that school term, shall be received and taught free of charge if the individualized education program for the resident under
s. 115.787 and the educational placement under
s. 115.79 specify the school operated by the program as the appropriate placement.
